“Don’t put your elbows on the table,” is something most people living in the western world heard when they were growing up. There was never much explanation outside of it simply being rude, but who decided propping your elbows on the table while you ate is something to be frowned upon? It turns out there was actually a legitimate reason for this rule when it was first introduced according to an etiquette expert.

William Hanson, an etiquette coach, took some time to answer people’s questions about etiquette rules for WIRED, and one of the very first questions is from a woman demanding to know why there’s a rule about no elbows on the table. It’s one of those rules that seems nonsensical even after reaching adulthood, but according to Hanson, the rule started with good reason.

“The no elbows on the table rule goes back to the medieval times in Europe when they were eating from trestle tables. They would put these benches out with sheets of wood on top. If you put your elbows on the table, the table would tip and the food would go everywhere, and obviously that’s not very good etiquette, and so it became the etiquette to not put your elbows on the table. We do really still abide by the no elbows on the table rule because I........

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